NY fund makeover sneaks under radar

Pensions & Investments – While every move of the New York State Common Retirement Fund is in the spotlight these days, what the bright lights don’t reveal are the dramatic improvements in the fund during the past two years.

An alleged massive pay-to-play scheme centered on the fund’s alternatives investments while Alan G. Hevesi held the New York state comptroller’s position from 2002 through 2006 has dominated the news about the pension fund for more than a month.

Mr. Hevesi’s successor, Thomas P. DiNapoli, immediately began reforming the investment department of the Albany-based fund once he took the helm in February 2007.